Appendix 1—The Survey

Aggregate Answers

(Note: This is a sampling of the questions and answers from the study. It is not comprehensive because of space limitations, and is taken from an 18-page summary compiled at the conclusion of the study. For clarity, the definition of these numerical columns and the methodology of their calculation is given below.)

Frequency is the actual number of people who gave a specific response to the question. Cumulative Frequency (CF) is equal to the total number of people who gave that response plus all prior responses to the question which adds up to the total number of interviews conducted. Percent represents the percentage of people who gave that specific response to a question. Cumulative Percent (CP) is equal to the total percentage of people who gave that response plus all prior responses to the question which adds up to 100 percent.

Age?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

25–29

528

528

52.8

52.8

20–24

472

1000

47.2

100

Regularly attend church when growing up—but never/seldom go today?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

1000

1000

100

100

IF REGULARLY ATTENDED—Which church
denomination did you attend?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Baptist Church

260

260

26

26

Lutheran

136

396

13.6

39.6

Church of God

84

480

8.4

48

Christian Church

72

552

7.2

55.2

Pentecostal

69

621

6.9

62.1

Church of Christ

69

690

6.9

69

Assembly of God

66

756

6.6

75.6

Non-denominational

61

817

6.1

81.7

Presbyterian

44

861

4.4

86.1

Community Church

38

899

3.8

89.9

Calvary Chapel

32

931

3.2

93.1

Bible Church

29

960

2.9

96

Christian and Missionary Alliance

17

977

1.7

97.7

Evangelical Free Church

15

992

1.5

99.2

Brethren

8

1000

0.8

100

Did you attend church regularly during
elementary/middle school years?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

946

946

94.6

94.6

No

54

1000

5.4

100

Did you attend church regularly during high
school?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

561

561

56.1

56.1

No

439

1000

43.9

100

Did you attend church regularly throughout your
college days?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

530

530

53

53

Did not attend college

356

886

35.6

88.6

Yes

114

1000

11.4

100

Why have you stopped attending church?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Boring service

119

119

11.9

11.9

Legalism

117

236

11.7

23.6

Hypocrisy—leaders

111

347

11.1

34.7

Too political

98

445

9.8

44.5

Self-righteous people

92

537

9.2

53.7

Distance from home

75

612

7.5

61.2

Not relevant personally

63

675

6.3

67.5

God would not condemn to hell

57

732

5.7

73.2

Bible not relevant

50

782

5

78.2

Not find preferred denomination in area

50

832

5

83.2

Not feel worthy

42

874

4.2

87.4

No time

29

903

2.9

90.3

Don't know

24

927

2.4

92.7

Hypocrisy—parents

20

947

2

94.7

Bible not true

16

963

1.6

96.3

Unfriendly people

11

974

1.1

97.4

Music is poor

10

984

1

98.4

Misc

6

990

0.6

99

Unsure my belief

5

995

0.5

99.5

Just quit going

3

998

0.3

99.8

Always ask for money

2

1000

0.2

100

Did you often attend Sunday school?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

606

606

60.6

60.6

No

394

1000

39.4

100

IF OFTEN ATTENDED SUNDAY SCHOOL—Feel
Sunday school lessons were helpful?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

436

436

71.95

71.95

No answer

394

436

0

71.95

No

114

550

18.81

90.76

Don't know

56

606

9.24

100

IF OFTEN ATTENDED SUNDAY SCHOOL—Did
you attend to see friends?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No answer

394

0

0

0

No

336

336

55.45

55.45

Yes

261

597

43.07

98.51

Don't know

9

606

1.49

100

IF OFTEN ATTENDED SUNDAY SCHOOL—Feel
lessons close to/different from school?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Very different

430

430

70.96

70.96

No answer

394

430

0

70.96

Close to what taught

176

606

29.04

100

IF OFTEN ATTENDED SUNDAY SCHOOL—Did
classes teach that Bible was true?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

569

569

93.89

93.89

No answer

394

569

0

93.89

Don't know

32

601

5.28

99.17

No

5

606

0.83

100

IF OFTEN ATTENDED SUNDAY SCHOOL—Did
classes teach Bible could be defended?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No answer

394

0

0

0

Yes

344

344

56.77

56.77

No

167

511

27.56

84.32

Don't know

95

606

15.68

100

In high school, attend public/Christian/charter/
home/Catholic?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Public school

859

859

85.9

85.9

Christian school

69

928

6.9

92.8

Home school

34

962

3.4

96.2

Charter school

32

994

3.2

99.4

Catholic school

6

1000

0.6

100

Have instructors who taught that earth was
millions of years old?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

785

785

78.5

78.5

No

192

977

19.2

97.7

Don't know

23

1000

2.3

100

Have instructors who taught that life evolved
from lower forms?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

591

591

59.1

59.1

No

335

926

33.5

92.6

Don't know

74

1000

7.4

100

Because of school experience, leave high school
believing Bible less true?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

670

670

67

67

Yes

278

948

27.8

94.8

Don't know

52

1000

5.2

100

Does the Bible contain errors?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

397

397

39.7

39.7

Don't know

304

701

30.4

70.1

No

299

1000

29.9

100

IF CONTAINS ERRORS—Can you identify one of
those errors for me?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No answer

603

0

0

0

Alleged contradictions

88

88

22.17

22.17

Writers made mistake

73

161

18.39

40.55

Unsaved go to hell

64

225

16.12

56.68

No

51

276

12.85

69.52

Wrong about earth's age

40

316

10.08

79.6

Too much suffering and death

23

339

5.79

85.39

Genesis disproved by science

21

360

5.29

90.68

Miracles do not occur

10

370

2.52

93.2

Never was a global flood

8

378

2.02

95.21

Christ not really God

7

385

1.76

96.98

Trinity does not make sense

6

391

1.51

98.49

There is a hell

5

396

1.26

99.75

Misc

1

397

0.25

100

Do your parents still attend church regularly?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

717

717

71.7

71.7

No

273

990

27.3

99

Don't know

10

1000

1

100

When you were younger, did your parents force
you to go to church?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

610

610

61

61

No

385

995

38.5

99.5

Don't know

5

1000

0.5

100

Do your closest friends attend church regularly
right now?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

649

649

64.9

64.9

Yes

337

986

33.7

98.6

Don't know

14

1000

1.4

100

Have any of your friends invited you to go back
to church w/them?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

505

505

50.5

50.5

Yes

479

984

47.9

98.4

Don't know

16

1000

1.6

100

Do you feel good people don't need to go to
church?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

562

562

56.2

56.2

Yes

352

914

35.2

91.4

Don't know

86

1000

8.6

100

Do you feel people w/college education less
likely attend church?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

700

700

70

70

Yes

181

881

18.1

88.1

Don't know

119

1000

11.9

100

IF LESS LIKELY—Feel those w/college
education influenced by professors?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No answer

819

0

0

0

Yes

142

142

78.45

78.45

No

25

167

13.81

92.27

Don't know

14

181

7.73

100

Believe all the accounts/stories in the Bible are
true/accurate?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

435

435

43.5

43.5

Yes

383

818

38.3

81.8

Don't know

182

1000

18.2

100

IF DON'T BELIEVE—What made you begin to
doubt the Bible?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No answer

565

0

0

0

Written by men

106

106

24.37

24.37

Not translated correctly

80

186

18.39

42.76

Contradicts itself

64

250

14.71

57.47

Science shows earth old

60

310

13.79

71.26

Bible has errors

48

358

11.03

82.3

Can't be a God with so much suffering

30

388

6.9

89.2

Christians don't live according to Bible

24

412

5.52

94.71

Evolution shows Bible cannot be trusted

19

431

4.37

99.08

Don't know

2

433

0.46

99.54

Misc

2

435

0.46

100

IF DON'T BELIEVE—When did you first have
doubts?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No answer

565

0

0

0

High school

190

190

43.68

43.68

Middle school

173

363

39.77

83.45

College

46

409

10.57

94.02

Elementary school

19

428

4.37

98.39

Don't know

7

435

1.61

100

Do you believe all the books of the Bible are
inspired by God?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

617

617

61.7

61.7

No

211

828

21.1

82.8

Don't know

172

1000

17.2

100

Believe other holy books like the Koran are
inspired by God?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

564

564

56.4

56.4

Don't know

291

855

29.1

85.5

Yes

145

1000

14.5

100

Believe in creation as stated in the Bible or in
evolution?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Biblical creation

718

718

71.8

71.8

Evolution

282

1000

28.2

100

Do you feel the Church is relevant to your needs
today?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

469

469

46.9

46.9

No

437

906

43.7

90.6

Don't know

94

1000

9.4

100

IF NOT RELEVANT—In what way do you feel
church is not fulfilling your needs?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No answer

563

0

0

0

Not feeling closer to God there

143

143

32.72

32.72

Not practical

102

245

23.34

56.06

Not meeting emotional needs

95

340

21.74

77.8

Don't learn about more God

55

395

12.59

90.39

Not establishing friendships at church

18

413

4.12

94.51

Bible not true

10

423

2.29

96.8

Don't know

6

429

1.37

98.17

Misc

6

435

1.37

99.54

Not telling truth there

2

437

0.46

100

Do you believe in the creation of Adam & Eve
and Garden of Eden?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

749

749

74.9

74.9

No

186

935

18.6

93.5

Don't know

65

1000

6.5

100

Believe Adam & Eve sinned and were expelled
from the Garden?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

748

748

74.8

74.8

No

165

913

16.5

91.3

Don't know

87

1000

8.7

100

Believe in story of Sodom & Gomorrah—Lot's
wife turned to salt?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

618

618

61.8

61.8

No

256

874

25.6

87.4

Don't know

126

1000

12.6

100

Do you believe in Noah's ark and the global
Flood?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

773

773

77.3

77.3

No

153

926

15.3

92.6

Don't know

74

1000

7.4

100

Do you believe there was a Tower of Babel as
recorded in Genesis?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

631

631

63.1

63.1

No

196

827

19.6

82.7

Don't know

173

1000

17.3

100

Do you believe the earth is less than 10,000
years old?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

571

571

57.1

57.1

Don't know

224

795

22.4

79.5

Yes

205

1000

20.5

100

Has secular science dating the earth 6 billion
years caused you to doubt Bible?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

464

464

46.4

46.4

No

424

888

42.4

88.8

Don't know

112

1000

11.2

100

Believe that God used evolution to change one
kind of animal to another?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

562

562

56.2

56.2

Yes

239

801

23.9

80.1

Don't know

199

1000

19.9

100

Do you believe that humans evolved from an
ape-like ancestor?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

543

543

54.3

54.3

Yes

301

844

30.1

84.4

Don't know

156

1000

15.6

100

Do you believe God used evolution to create
human beings?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

608

608

60.8

60.8

Yes

222

830

22.2

83

Don't know

170

1000

17

100

Did pastor/Sunday school teacher teach
Christians could believe Darwin?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

789

789

78.9

78.9

Don't know

116

905

11.6

90.5

Yes

95

1000

9.5

100

Ever teach that Christians could believe earth
millions/billions years old?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

592

592

59.2

59.2

Yes

266

858

26.6

85.8

Don't know

142

1000

14.2

100

Ever teach that God created earth in six days,
each 24 hours long?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

826

826

82.6

82.6

No

110

936

11

93.6

Don't know

64

1000

6.4

100

Ever teach that the Book of Genesis was a myth
or legend?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

857

857

85.7

85.7

Don't know

76

933

7.6

93.3

Yes

67

1000

6.7

100

Believe Joseph was sold into slavery & became
Pharaoh's closest advisor?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

534

534

53.4

53.4

Don't know

264

798

26.4

79.8

No

202

1000

20.2

100

Is there one idea you question more than the
rest?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

415

415

41.5

41.5

Earth is young not old

298

713

29.8

71.3

Days of creation were 24-hour days

134

847

13.4

84.7

Really was Adam/Eve

116

963

11.6

96.3

Really was Noah's Flood

37

1000

3.7

100

Would you say questioning was beginning of
your doubt in the Bible?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No answer

412

0

0

0

Yes

327

327

55.61

55.61

No

183

510

31.12

86.73

Don't know

78

588

13.27

100

At what age did you begin to really question
contents in Bible?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

High school years

457

457

45.7

45.7

Grades 7–9

293

750

29.3

75

Grades 4–6

128

878

12.8

87.8

Early college

112

990

11.2

99

Grades K–3

10

1000

1

100

Anything a teacher did/said that caused you to
doubt the Bible?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

728

728

72.8

72.8

Evolution was true

119

847

11.9

84.7

Bible was attacked

60

907

6

90.7

Christians are hypocrites

38

945

3.8

94.5

Don't know

31

976

3.1

97.6

Atheism was true

9

985

0.9

98.5

Christians want to take over society

8

993

0.8

99.3

God described as unloving

7

1000

0.7

100

Did your parents' behavior influence you not to
attend church?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

774

774

77.4

77.4

Yes

201

975

20.1

97.5

Don't know

25

1000

2.5

100

Do you expect to attend church regularly after
you have children?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

381

381

38.1

38.1

No

322

703

32.2

70.3

Don't know

297

1000

29.7

100

IF ANY DENOMINATION—Why do you expect
to attend this denomination?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No answer

627

0

0

0

One I grew up with

170

170

45.58

45.58

Closest to my beliefs

116

286

31.1

76.68

Heard good things

30

316

8.04

84.72

Large denomination in area

29

345

7.77

92.49

Friend/relative is part of denomination

28

373

7.51

100

Do you attend any church services at Easter or
Christmas?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

492

492

49.2

49.2

Both

235

727

23.5

72.7

Easter

163

890

16.3

89

Christmas

110

1000

11

100

IF DO NOT ATTEND—In what way do you view
church today?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No answer

508

0

0

0

Don't think of it at all

182

182

36.99

36.99

Hypocritical

89

271

18.09

55.08

Too political

69

340

14.02

69.11

Irrelevant

52

392

10.57

79.67

Boring

40

432

8.13

87.8

Caring

28

460

5.69

93.5

Social club

16

476

3.25

96.75

Loving environment

15

491

3.05

99.8

Misc

1

492

0.2

100

Is there any part of the church service that you
miss today?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

500

500

50

50

No

454

954

45.4

95.4

Don't know

46

1000

4.6

100

IF MISS ANY PART - Which part do you still miss?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No answer

500

0

0

0

Worshiping God

103

103

20.6

20.6

Special events

96

199

19.2

39.8

Pastor's teaching

93

292

18.6

58.4

Outreach to community

77

369

15.4

73.8

Friends

68

437

13.6

87.4

Music

35

472

7

94.4

Sunday school class

27

499

5.4

99.8

Misc

1

500

0.2

100

Do you believe you are saved and will go to
heaven upon death?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

656

656

65.6

65.6

Don't know

208

864

20.8

86.4

No

136

1000

13.6

100

Do you believe you have become anti-church
through the years?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

608

608

60.8

60.8

Yes

343

951

34.3

95.1

Don't know

49

1000

4.9

100

Which of these make you question the Bible
most?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

None

326

326

32.6

32.6

Earth not less than10,000 years old

250

576

25

57.6

Too many rules

128

704

12.8

70.4

Creation account

121

825

12.1

82.5

Bible does not make sense of suffering/death

111

936

11.1

93.6

Miracles not true

29

965

2.9

96.5

Flood of Noah

24

989

2.4

98.9

Christ's divinity

11

1000

1.1

100

Is gay marriage morally acceptable?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

741

741

74.1

74.1

Yes

164

905

16.4

90.5

Don't know

95

1000

9.5

100

Should abortion continue to be legal in most
instances?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

No

488

488

48.8

48.8

Yes

380

868

38

86.8

Don't know

132

1000

13.2

100

Should science instructors be allowed to teach
problems w/evolution?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

517

517

51.7

51.7

No

312

829

31.2

82.9

Don't know

171

1000

17.1

100

Should prayer be allowed in public schools?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

718

718

71.8

71.8

No

178

896

17.8

89.6

Don't know

104

1000

10.4

100

Is premarital sex okay?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

517

517

51.7

51.7

No

435

952

43.5

95.2

Don't know

48

1000

4.8

100

What is your family status?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Married/children

387

387

38.7

38.7

Single

296

683

29.6

68.3

Married

262

945

26.2

94.5

Single/children

55

1000

5.5

100

IF MARRIED—Were you married in a church?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Yes

454

454

69.95

69.95

No Answer

351

454

0

69.95

No

195

649

30.05

100

What is the last grade of school you have
completed?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

HS graduate

362

362

36.2

36.2

College graduate

328

690

32.8

69

Some college

256

946

25.6

94.6

Graduate school

44

990

4.4

99

Less than HS

10

1000

1

100

Combined income?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

$50,000–$74,999

303

303

30.3

30.3

$36,000–$49,999

267

570

26.7

57

$24,000–$35,999

265

835

26.5

83.5

$15,000–$23,999

119

954

11.9

95.4

$75,000 and up

28

982

2.8

98.2

$6,000–$14,999

13

995

1.3

99.5

Under $6,000

5

1000

0.5

100

What is the occupation of the head of the
household?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

Blue collar

454

454

45.4

45.4

White collar

442

896

44.2

89.6

Government/military

52

948

5.2

94.8

Self-employed

41

989

4.1

98.9

Student/homemaker

9

998

0.9

99.8

Unemployed

2

1000

0.2

100

Location?

Frequency

CF

Percent

CP

South Atlantic

180

180

18

18

E. North Central

170

350

17

35

Pacific

160

510

16

51

Middle

150

660

15

66

W. South Central

100

760

10

76

W. North Central

70

830

7

83

E. South Central

60

890

6

89

Mountain

60

950

6

95

New England

50

1000

5

100

Appendix 2—The 15 Questions of Life

Can your child, your student or your church family answer the following questions?

In 1 Peter 3:15, God reveals the importance of being able to defend
our belief in Christ, and as believers we do not need to fear engaging
the culture of disbelief with the truth of God's purpose and vision for
our lives.

Answers in Genesis website: answersingenesis.org (For the technical minded, see the Answers In-Depth section, Answers Research Journal at answersingenesis.org/arj, and the many technical books available through the website.)

Already Gone

Statistics reveal a huge disconnect taking place between our children and their church experience. Nationwide polls and denominational reports are showing that the next generation is calling it quits on the traditional church. And it’s not just happening on the nominal fringe; it’s happening at the core of the faith. In the first scientific study of its kind, the “Beemer Report” reveals startling facts discovered through 20,000 phone calls and detailed surveys of a thousand 20–29 year olds who used to attend evangelical churches on a regular basis, but have since left it behind. The results are shocking.

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Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively. We focus on providing answers to questions about the Bible—particularly the book of Genesis—regarding key issues such as creation, evolution, science, and the age of the earth.